Diego Magaña Anza San Ginés 2022

Diego Magaña, son of a Navarrese winemaker, made Anza San Ginés in D.O.Ca. Rioja from a traditional field blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Viura, Malvasía and several near-forgotten varieties grown together in the same plot. The vineyards sit on the chalk and clay slopes at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria, where cool nights off the mountain slow ripening and hold acidity, giving a wine built to age. Co-fermenting red and white grapes together adds aromatic lift and a finer tannin structure, while the small proportion of white varieties softens the mid-palate. Time in barrel allows slow oxygen exchange through the staves, knitting the tannins and adding spice without masking the fruit. The wine is deep and saturated in colour. The nose leads with ripe plum and dark cherry over woodsmoke, crushed stone and a savoury, earthy undertone. The palate is full and firmly structured, with fine grippy tannins, black pepper and liquorice carrying a long mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, grilled beef and dishes built around mushrooms.